Article 55 (Holidays), Labor Standards Act, as last amended by Act No. 12325, Jan. 21, 2014

In Korea, public holidays are holidays for public agencies, and banks, and that means an employer does not have a legal obligation to give employees off days on public holidays. In Korean labor law, paid holidays are weekly holidays(usually Sundays) and Labor Day(May 1) only. However, if rules of employment states that the company follows public holidays, then an employer shall grant employees public holidays as their holidays.


*Labor Standards Act

Article 55 (Holidays)

An employer shall allow workers at least one paid holiday per week on average.

Article 56 (Extended, Night or Holiday Work)

An employer shall, in addition to the ordinary wages, pay 50 percent or more thereof for extended work (work during the hours as extended pursuant to Articles 53 and 59 and the proviso to Article 69), night work (work between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.), or holiday work.

Designation of Workers’ Day Act

The first day of May each year shall be designated as Workers' Day, which shall be a paid holiday under the Labor Standards Act.